HOLLYWOOD >> The musical love letter to Los Angeles “La La Land” could have a monster night at Sunday night’s 89th Academy Awards thanks to its record-tying 14 nominations, but upstart “Hidden Figures” could steal the spotlight in a ceremony likely to include a heavy dose of political discourse.

Director Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” tied “Titanic” and “All About Eve” with its 14 Oscar nods, and it has an outside chance of at least tying the record for most Oscars ever won by a film -- 11 -- a number reached by “Ben-Hur,” “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

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But “La La Land” is competing against itself in the original song category, in which it has two nominations, and Ryan Gosling is unlikely to walk away with the best-actor prize, with most pundits eying the race as a toss-up between Denzel Washington (“Fences”) and Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”). Emma Stone is a favorite to win for best actress, but veteran French performer Isabelle Huppert has gained award-season momentum for her work as a revenge-seeking rape victim in “Elle.”

“Hidden Figures,” about three black women -- a math whiz, a computer expert and an engineer -- who overcome 1960s prejudice to help propel NASA into space, stole some of “La La Land’s” thunder by winning the ensemble-cast honor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and it could score an upset for best picture at the Oscars. Golden Globe winner “Moonlight” could also provide some competition.

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“La La Land” has won most of the other major awards leading up to Oscar night, including the prestigious film prize from the Producers Guild of America, which has traditionally predicted the ultimate Academy Award winner. That trend was broken last year, however, when the PGA honored “The Big Short,” but the Oscar went to “Spotlight.”

Also competing for best picture are “Arrival,” “Fences,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Hell or High Water,” “Lion” and “Manchester by the Sea.”

The 89th Academy Awards ceremony will hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and televised live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Find out how to watch the Oscars by clicking here.